Now something for those Republicans who aren’t so geaux, geaux on Sen. John McCain. When I look at the Arizona Republican’s stand on nearly everything, from corporate tax rates (he wants to cut them to 25 percent from the current 35 percent) to abortion and gun control, I see a conservative. But it would seem that many conservatives look at him like he’s wearing a Jane Fonda mask and a feathered boa.

I’d like to hear from those readers who consider themselves conservatives what they mean when they call themselves that. Tell me what you stand for and why. In short, what is your personal definition of conservatism and why don’t you think that the probable Republican candidate meets your requirements?

Liberals. I want to hear your definition of liberalism. Why do you call yourself that? What does it mean, and why can’t we all just get along?

A reader from Hawthorne named Peter wanted to know what I meant when I said that John Sidney McCain III had been on the public payroll since birth. Actually, I meant nothing derogatory about that. I was merely pointing out that McCain’s grandfather and father were both Navy admirals. He was educated at the Naval Academy, served in Vietnam, was shot down on his 23rd bombing mission in 1967, spent five years as a POW and later returned to Arizona, where he was elected to the House of Representatives, then the Senate.

He has been a public servant and on the public payroll, in one way or another, since birth.

My mention of a friend who votes based upon the looks of candidate wives brought this response from Bob Good: “Got five more names to add to your idiot list. Our poker group. We voted for Laura. Can you visualize what Kerry’s wife would be like?”

Wait, is Kerry running again?

But seriously, I would have voted for Barb a long time ago.

Leo Douglas of Redondo Beach wrote: “Liked your comments on e-mail candidate promotions. On Monday, we got 15 calls. All were computer generated except the ones from the school bond people. I asked the caller what happened to the $50 million that the previous bond generated. She didn’t know, and was quite offended that I asked. Seems to me that if someone is returning to the well yet again, they ought to know what happened to the contents of the previous bucket.

“This new bond, which passed, amounts to about $2,200 per resident. Wonder what success they would have had if they went door to door and asked each person to write a check for that amount? with zero accountability. We now have $200 million poured into the school system for upkeep and improvements in eight years. Keep in mind, this is largely not about education. I read a quote from an official who said that these funds will have no impact on the education that the kids will receive, but it will make them proud of their school. Lotta money for pride.”

Doug Decker had this to say, “I just finished reading your dissertation on voting and, for once, I thought I was going to agree with the entire article. Close, very close. In fact I agreed with all but 32 words of a 1,007-word commentary. (Note: Was it that long?) You were going along just fine until you showed your true self with a rant about our president, `like the lame-duck president who is about to allow clear-cutting in the world’s last untouched coastal temperate forest’ and ` in charge of the biggest carbon-emitting machine on the planet.’ Maybe I will save a tree and not buy your paper next time.”

You got me. My true self happens to believe that the world’s last untouched coastal temperate forest is more important than five years of lumber jobs, after which there will be no lumber jobs and a ruined forest. And we are the world’s largest carbon emitter.

James Darl of Torrance wrote this rebuttal to that same column: “There is no reason that you should take time out of a busy day to do something that makes no difference whatsoever. Let me explain myself. I don’t vote because, one, the elections were rigged not once but twice by that monster in the White House, and everybody has let him get away with it. Two, when he couldn’t go through with a third stolen election in 2006 and the Democrats won, we thought we would finally see a change and a return to democracy, when in fact the Democrats have changed nothing. And they continue to fund this mass murder mission and give in to this madman’s bullying tactics. Three, I would not vote for any candidate because all of them are wimps, not even one has promised that if elected, they would get that madman and his administration in a maximum security prison and then drain all their families’ fortune to help rebuild the damage from the hideous crimes they have committed. Getting drunk is more productive than voting.”

Former colleague Verne Palmer offers a slightly different view: “Your election column was the best thing I’ve read on the subject. Ought to be required reading for every registered voter heck, for everyone.”

Wrote Debbie Scanlon of Rancho Palos Verdes: “What a great column on the privilege to vote! In my opinion, if a person can’t bother to vote, they have no right to voice an opinion about any official elected or any proposition that passes. People in many countries would love to have the opportunity to vote for their leaders and are denied. I honestly believe that citizen apathy will eventually destroy this country.”

Finally, there was this from Anker Sims of Redondo Beach: “Since McCain plans to continue Bush’s war and our military needs troops, when does he plan to start the draft?”

Good question.

I want to hear from you. Connect with me at john.bogert@dailybreeze.com or send a letter to Daily Breeze/John Bogert at 5215 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503-4077.